Britannia REscue - no refund on cancellation?

Hey ho.

Obviously only non-EOSM'ers around, but I'll take my chances!

Joined Britannia in Aug 03 for cars and bikes, and renewal came in two
weeks ago. Didn't have time to look at it, so left it to the side.

Opened it today and see it's auto-renewed, at 124 annually.

I called them today to say I hadn't renewed it, and was told that they
operated a " continuous payment method " = meaning they auto-renew
unless told not to. I don't remember being told that at all when I took
out the original.

I said OK, I'd like to cancel - and here's the killer.

I was told that they'll cancel the remaining portion ( almost a full
year ) but they don't refund this.

Blurb says:

You may cancel or suspend your membership at any time by giving us
seven days' notice in writing. (See E7 if you have chosen monthly
membership.) However, we will not refund any unused part of your
premium but will hold it in credit for up to three years against any
future payment you make if you renew your membership.

Droid told me that that's it - they can hold the balance for three
years.

That can't be right, surely? Anyone know for certain, that seems like
bloody daylight robbery if that's the case.

 

eh? I imagine most people aren't leaving until tomorrow.

 

Not entirely relevant, but when my InsCo autorenewed my cover, I told them I
thought it was theft to take monies from my account without my consent, and
that they'd be receiving a solicitors letter if the money wasn't returned
sharpish. Took them 2 days to refund direct to my account, so they obviously
know they're on dodgy ground.
Might be worth a try. As for the holding of said monies, I've no idea sorry.

 

Champ yik-yakked:

Really? Lightweights ;-)

I'd have assumed a Friday rendezvous and a practice night for drinking.

 

More to the point, what does "Obviously only non-EOSM'ers around, but I'll
take my chances!
" mean?

 

I would shake their worthless donkey in a mediaeval stylee.

Notworth Using autorenewed my car insurance a couple of years ago, having
conveniently ignored my informing them that they should not, and continued
taking direct debit installments from my bank account. When I spotted that
this was going on, I had a very serious chat with the droid, his supervisor,
and his supervisor's manager, and eventually got a cheque raised.

It's a gimmick to retain "members". I assume DD or credit card? Both
payment methods have various safeguards, none of which the merchant wants
you to invoke. They're on shaky ground, and they won't be too keen on the
oxygen of publicity either. CAB is a good first stop.

 

platypus wrote in

DD does have a lot of safeguards built in; your bank has to refund any
unauthorised debits immediately rather than wait for the vendor to cough
up a refund.

This case involves a Credit card "continuous authority" which is another
thing all together. They do not have the protection offered by the
Direct Debit Guarantee. The contract is with the cardholder and vendor.
Unlike a DD you cannot contact your bank to cancel it.

I had a series of letters with Halifax Credit Cards as Tiscali continued
to bill me for a service I no longer subscribed to. Eventually, only
after I threatened to report the matter to the police as an alleged
fraud did Halifax and Tiscali wake up and do something.

As far as the refund is concerned, Britannia are on shaky ground IMO.
Even if this credit note thing is written in their T&Cs it would
probably be deemed as unreasonable and therefore invalid by Trading
Standards.

As the transaction was over £100 you may have some protection under the
Consumer Credit Act. However, I'd contact Trading Standards first.
Britannia are acting like cunts and need a good kicking. IIRC either
Trading Standards or Consumers' Association is trying to get these
credit cards continuous authorities banned as too many companies abuse
them.

 

porl yik-yakked:

In a *good* way, it means that I'd have expected a great deal of the
regulars to be offski already, so wasn't expecting any fast answers!

Honest ;-)

 

I think some people have probs with them when they subscribe to pr0n
sites (allegedly).

The pr0n provider keeps billing you, refuses to acknowledge any
correspondence, and turns out to be a PO box in Boca Raton or
somewhere....

 

The Older Gentleman yik-yakked:

Some things are *worth* paying for!

( Shuffles down to seedy bar to help some poor girl fund her way
through further education.........)

I'm a philanthropist,me.